The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-26
lie Thinks the Plan of Political Partisan Or
ganizations Should Be Abandoned-The
President Grows Weary of the Talk.
Hon. w. D. Kelley Discusses the Attitude
of Republicans Toward the Tariff.
President Cleveland Issues Proclamation
Designating Nov. "a as Day of Thanks
giving-General Washington News.
COMMISSIONERS LYMAN.
He Discusses the Rights of Office Holders and
Agrees with Mr. Oberly.

he discusses the Rights of OfHce-Holdors ana
Agrees with MIR. OberIy.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Civil-service Com
missioner Lyman, who, with his family has
just returned to the city, was interviewed BY
an Associated Press reporter to-day. In reply
to inquiries by the reporter, Mr.. Lyman said that
he had read Mr.. Oberlys letter to tho Illinois AS
sociation and a reported interview with Mr..
Edeerton on the points raised and discussed in
that letter. and that in the main his views coin
cided with those eff Mr. Oberly. He regarded
associations of the character OF the Illinois As
sociation, whether composed OF Democrats. Re-
publicans, labor reformers temperance advo-
ca tes what-not, as very Objectionable. il not
illeea., and certain. to greater or less extent.
to demoralize the public service. and to defeat
one object of the civil service law.
viz: to secure non-partisan service;
within the sphere OF operation of that law.
service non-partisan in fact, and non.
partisan in attitude and activity, and partisan
politics trade, shall have place. s'Suck
SERVICE" he said, would be made up of men
of ali parties; men who might in truth hold
and on suitable occasions give expression to,
strong political views: out, who would hold the
expression and advocacy of those views in SUBJ
ordination to the public interest. and in SO
doing would yield no whit Of their rights or
privileges as citizens 1t is clearly the right of
q citizen. of every Citizen" said Mr.. Lyman,
to hold and express, in word or act. political
views but it is not the right of any citizen, who
is also a public servant, to SO give expression to
his political views. either in word act. to
bring discord and confusion in to the public serv-
ice. Repose is normal and necessary con-
diton of efficiency in the public service, and it
needs no great wisdom to see that the organiza~
tion of that service into warning polcal factions
would be utterly destructive of that
pose. Once concede that the adherents
in the public service of the party in power may
organize themselves into associations for the
purpose of maintaining that party in power, aud
under the impartial action of the civil
law the right must also be conceded to those in
the service opposed to tho party in power to Or
pose of overtime wing that party and driving it
out of power. And when all parties are thus
organized. and the mem bers or the associations
of each actively engaged in endeavors to
oust from the service tho members of the assoc
Citations of the others-fo- that Is just tho direc-
their activity will take, sooner later. no
matter what their profession-what spectacle
will be presented to the gaze of the country?
The bare thought Of the possibility of such .
tion of partisan political associations in the pub
lie service. is enough to condemn the whole
movement. and should secure its instant aban-
donment"
Mr.. Lyman added that the payment Of money
to maintain a political association within tho
ranks of the civil service, even though paid to
outside of the service, would be q violation Of
the law. which forbids such contributions,
directly or indirectly" He indorsed Mr..
mittees ineligible members OF boards Of civil
service examiners, on the ground that it was abb
solutely necessary to keep these boards FREQ
from even suspicion of partisanship.